Electrical controller system



May 31, 1932- J. A. BERRIAN 1,861,204

ELECTRICAL CONTROLLER SYSTEM Filed y 24, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORJA. BERR/AN qlliu di' ATTORNE Y y 3 J. A. BERRLAN 1,861,204

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/NVENTOR J. A.BERR/AN -H.H da

AT RNEY Patented May 31, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN A.BERRIAN, OF DADE CITY, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR TO BELL TELEPHONE LABORA-TORIES', INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORKELECTRICAL CONTROLLER SYSTEM Application filed May 24,

This invention relates to control systems and more particularly to adevice for checking the movement of a controller arm.

Various types of checking devices for controllers have been provided inelectrical systems for preventing too rapid increase in the applicationof current to electrical devices. Some of such known devices employ acomplicated mechanism comprising a series of magnets controlled bycurrent as it is built up in the windings of said magnets when connectedin circuits extending through the controller contacts for positivelypreventmg destructive surges of current. Other known 15.:devicescomprise latches for the controller arm which are designed to preventtoo rapid movement of the arm but which are capable of being movedrapidly if an operator desires such operation. In a majority of thelatter devices a spring latch is operable at the controller arm whenthis arm is in any of its various positions and the arm may be freelymoved over positions at which it would ordinarily be stopped. In certainelec- 5-trical systems a controller, which can only be manipulated in amanner to prevent current surges, is required although such electricalsystem may be of a nature which would not warrant the use of acomplicated mechasonism.

The object of this invention is therefore to provide a simple checkingdevice for multiposition circuit controllers which may be re leased formovement of the controller arm only when said controller arm is abuttingthe checking device.

One embodiment of the present invention comprises a transformer arrangedto reduce 110 volts alternating current for lighting a 30 volt, 900 wattprojection lamp in a sound film reproducing system in which the windingsof the transformer are connected to multi-position controller contactspreferably attached to said transformer. The movement of the controllerarm must be carefully regulated in order to prevent destruction of thislamp which has a filament of negligible resistance until it has beenheated. Therefore, a device is provided which positively insures amomentary stop at certain of the contacts 1930. Serial No. 455,445.

to which the transformer windings are con nected. During this momentarystop the filament becomes suiiiciently heated to permit advancing thecontroller arm to the next contact. For this purpose a spring controlleddetent is located in the head of the trans former casing. This detent isnot connected in any way to the controller arm and is only operableafter the controller arm has abutted the detent. A manually operablespring released button is attached to and carried with the controllerarm so that when the controller abuts the detent this button may bedepressed for moving the detent downwardly in order to permit furthermovement of the controller arm.

Referring to the illustrated embodiment, Figs. 1 and 2 show thecontroller arm mounted in position on the end of atransformer casing.Fig. 3 shows details of the controller arm and Fig. 1 the springarrangement for the controller arm latching mechamsm.

Three views of the controller arm have been shown in Fig. 5, a, Z), andc to properly illustrate the method of operating the controller armstops or latches.

Figs. 6 and 7 show the contact head and switching arrangement operatedby the controller arm and F ig. 8 shows the transformer coils asassociated with the contacts of F ig. 6.

The disclosure to be described herein has been chosen as the controllingapparatus as sociated with a transformer for supplying current to aprojection lamp in a motion picture system. The transformer head isshown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the controller arm 10 attached to shaft 12by thumb nut 13, thus setting the controller arm in its proper relationto the switch brushes 30, 31, 32 and 83 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Fig.1, further shows the relative position of the contact base 14 to thetransformer head 15 and controller arm 10. The contact base 14 isfastened to the transformer head through the agency of screws 17. Thecontroller arm latches or stops a3 and 24 are mounted in the transformerhead on spring 25 which is fastened to the inner side ofthe transformerhead by screws 26 and 27 as shown in Fig. 4.

In the specific embodiment disclosed herein the purpose of thetransformer arm stops is to prevent too rapid an increase of currentthrough the filament of lamp 60, shown in Fig. 8. The plug 61 of Fig. 8is used for connecting the controlling unit and transformer to a powersource. This power source is extended over one conductor to the upperend of the primary transformer coil 66, the other conductor beingconnected through the switching contacts. The switch of Fig. 6 is shownin its normal position in full lines and in position 1 in dotted lines.It will be noted that brushes 30 and 32 are alternately associated withtheir respective connections as the switch is advanced. By referring toFig. 7 it will be noted that separate two section brushes are shown eachside of shaft 12. The switch brushes 30 and 31 are held in position oninsulating block 52 by bolts 53. The brushes 32 and 33 are held inposition on this insulating block by bolts 51. The insulating block isheld in position on the shaft through the agency of pin 56.

Let it now be assumed that the controller arm 10 is turned from itsnormal position for associating brush 31 with contact 40. In thisposition of the controller arm extension 18 abuts detent 23. In position1 with brush 31 resting on contact 40, brush 30 is posi tioned upon themetal ring 35. The transformer coil 64 which is connected to contact 40is connected to coil 63 through brushes 30 and 31 which establishes acircuit from one side of the power source through coil 63, metal ring35, contact 40, transformer coils 64, and 66 to the alternate side ofsaid power source. It might be stated at this time that transformercoils 64 and 65 are of high resistance and when placed in series withcoil 66 permit a very small current flow through the secondarytransformer coil 67 and thus establish a very small flow of currentthrough lamp 60. The resistance of lamp 60 is practically zero whencold. This resistance, however, rapidly increases upon the applicationof a small amount of current thereto. Therefore, regardless of the highresistance of coil 64 surficient current flows through the lamp to heatit to some extent and increase its resistance. In order to allow timefor the resistance of the lamp to properly advance the controller arm 10is latched when brushes 30 and 31 are brought to rest upon terminal 40.

The movement of the controller arm for advancing the brushes from theirnormal position to the first contact is shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 5aillustrates the controller arm in its normal position with extension 18a distance removed from detent 23. Fig. 5b shows extension 18 of thecontroller arm abutting detent 23. In this position of the controllerarm the brush 31 is resting on terminal 40. In order to advance thecontroller arm for positioning the brushes upon the next sue ceedingcontact detent 23 must be pressed downwardly. This is accomplished bydepressing the cylindrical button 20 against the pressure of spring 21.lVhen this button comes into contact with detent 23, the detent ispushed downwardly against the pressure of spring 25. The operator of thecontroller arm may depress the button 20 with his thumb and at the sametime press with the hand against the controller arm for moving extension18 over the top of detent 23. This operation is best shown by theposition of the cylindrical button 20 and extension 18 in Fig. 50. Itwill be noted that the detent 23 has been moved below the bottom edge ofextension 18 and the extension 18 is in position for further movement ofthe controller arm. The button 20 is then released and the controllerarm moved for positioning brush 33 upon terminal 41 which will be knownas position 2. At this time brush 32 is resting upon the circular metalring 34 and the extension 18 is abutting detent 24.

In position 2 a circuit is established from the power source throughcoil 62, circular metal ring 34, contact 41, primary windings 65 and 66of the transformer to the alternate side of the power source. Thewinding 64 is thus eliminated from the circuit and the currentconsequently increased in the secondary transformer winding 67 and inthe filament of lamp 60. Detent 24 is now pressed downwardly by thecylindrical button 20 in the same manner as described for detent 23. Thecontroller arm 10 is moved so that extension 18 rides over the top ofdetent 24. The brush 33 is thus moved away from contact 41. Furthermovement of the controller arm asso-- ciates brush 31 with contact 42.In this position of the switch a circuit is established from the powersource through resistance winding 63, circular metal ring 35, contact42, primary winding 66 of the transformer to the alternate side of thepower source. At this time the filament of lamp 60 has increasedsufficiently in resistance to endure rapid increases in currentstrength. The controller arm may, therefore, be rotated rapidly to apoint for properly illuminating the lamp 60. As the brushes are rotatedunder the control of the controller arm a circuit is alternatelyestablished through the brushes on each side of the shaft 12, eachsucceeding position illuminating windings of the primary coil 66 of thetransformer.

Referring again to Fig. 5a, b and c, it will be noted that there is notany possible manner of operation by which the controller arm may befreely moved through the contact positions at which it should bemomentarily stopped. If the cylindrical button 20 is held down by anoperator desiring free movement of the arm, this button will abut detent23 if the arm is started from its normal position or will abut detent 24if held down after passing detent 23. It would thus readily be found bythe operator of an electrical system having this controller arm andlatching arrangement, that the arm could be moved through its cycle onlyby a sequence of operations positively controlled by mechanical devicesto establish successive circuits through the contacts associatedtherewith.

It is apparent that the invention disclosed herein is applicable to manysystems and should not be limited to the specific embodiment shown.

What is claimed is:

1. In a controller, a rotatable arm and hub member arranged to operatesaid controller, a secondary member connected to said hub member in adifferent radial position than said arm and rotatable therewith, aspring supported resilient detent mounted in the face of said controllerfor arresting the rotation of said arm and hub member, a fixed extensionon said secondary member arranged to abut said detent, and a push button on said secondary member free to operate at all times but onlyeffective for pushing said detent out of the path of said extension whensaid member has been rotated to a point where said extension abuts saiddetent.

2. In a controller, a rotatable arm and hub member arranged to operatesaid controller, a secondary member connected to said hub member in adifferent radial position and on a different horizontal level than saidarm, said secondary member being rotatable with said arm and hub member,a spring supported resilient detent mounted in the face of saidcontroller for arresting the rotation of said arm and hub member, afixed extension on said secondary member arranged to abut said detent,and a push button on said secondary member free to operate at all timesbut only effective for pushing said detent out of the path of saidextension when said member has been rotated to a point where saidextension abuts said detent.

3. In a controller, a rotatable arm and hub member arranged to operatesaid controller, a secondary member connected to said hub member in adifferent radial position than said arm and rotatable therewith, aplurality of spring supported resilient detents mounted in the face ofsaid controller, each so constructed as to stop the movement of the armand hub member when rotated in one direction and permit free rotation ofthe arm and hub member in the opposite direct-ion, a fixed extension onsaid secondary member arranged to abut said detents when said mem ber ismoved in one direction and slide over said detents when moved in theopposite direction, and a push button on said secondary member free tooperate at all times but only effective for pushing said detents out ofthe

